Hub-cap



(No Model.)

H. HIGGIN HUB GAP. No. 544,171. Patented Aug. 6,1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

HENRY HIGGIN, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY.

HUB-CAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,171, dated August 6, 1895.

Applica io filed February 23,1895. Serial No. 539,373. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY HIGGIN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Newport, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Hub-Caps, of

plan showing the cap in position for removal.

A represents a band or shell secured to the hub-flange B, preferably by expanding it over the flange. This band is provided on its inher periphery With ratchet projections a, preferably having squared inner faces arranged in opposite rows.

0 represents a cap provided with an annular flange 0, having extensions 0 provided with peripheral grooves 0 These grooves are adapted to take over the projections a and hold the cap against movement, relatively to the band, in the direction of'the length of the hub. In the form shown a peripheral flange, adapted to abut against the end of the hubflange, limits the inward movement of the cap, and the innermost wall of the groove abuts against the straight faces of the ratchet proj ections and locks the cap against outward movement. Mounted on the inner periphery of flange c are spring pawls or catchesD having lugs 01 adapted to take into the notches between the ratchet projections a, the lugs being preferably located adjacent to the open ends of the grooves. These lugs are beveled on both sides, so that they may pass the projections it in either direction. The grooves have a stop 0 on the end adapted to limit the rotary movement of the cap.

To secure the cap to the hub the flange c is introduced into band A and rotated until the lugs (1 spring over one or more of the ratchet projections a, and the projections are brought within the embrace of the grooves. The spring-pawls prevent accidental retrograde movement of the cap, and the grooves hold the cap against movement in the line of the length of the hub.

By employing a series of ratchet projections and rotating the cap until a number of the projections are Within the groove, accidental removal of the cap is practically impossible.

The cap may be removed by rotating it in a reverse direction until the projections a are free from the grooves, then drawing it outward.

I prefer to incline the cap-flange at the rear of extension 0, as shown ate. This affords a cam-surface which, when the cap is rotated for the purpose of withdrawal, engages with the foremost projection of the series and tends to throw the cap outward, thus aiding its withdrawal.

I claim as my invention- The combination with a hub band flange, having projections, a,- on its inner periphery, of a cap, 0, having a flange, 0, provided with extensions, 0', having grooves, 0 adapted to take over the projections,'a; cam surfaces, 0 adapted to contact with the projections, and spring pawls, D, adapted to hold the projections against accidental movement in the grooves, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY HIGGIN. Witnesses: G. W. YOUTSEY, GEO. WINTER. 

